Hand-guided shearing apparatus and method



Feb. 11, 1958 M. s. MALEK HAND-GUIDED SHEARING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed April 29, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR MORRIS S. MALEK ATTORNEYS Feb. 11,1958 M. s. MALEK I 2,822,871

HAND-GUIDED SHEARING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed April 29, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 c J I F/G5.

INVENTOR.

MORRIS s. MALEK ATTORNEYS Feb. 11, 1958 M. s. MALEK 2, ,8

HAND-GUIDED SHEARING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed; April 2 1 s Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. /3.

INVENTOR.

' MORRIS S. MALEK ATTORNEYS United States Patent HAND-GUIDED SHEARING APPARATUS AND METHOD Morris 8. Malek, New York, N. Y.

Application April 29, 1955, Serial No. 504,798

11 Claims. (Cl. 164-75) This invention relates to shearing devices and more particularly to portable power operated hand-guided sheet severing tools, for example, as used to cut sheet materials of fabric, cloth and the like, such as employed in the trade and especially in the manufacture of wearing apparel, and the improved method of operation therewith.

Among the objects of the invention is to generally improve devices and the method of the character described, which devices shall comprise few and simple parts that are readily assembled to form a rugged hand tool, which shall be cheap to manufacture, which devices and method shall reduce to a greater extent than heretofore hand movement of required apparatus for forming the sheet material being cut into superimposed layers, which shall permit accurate and smooth cutting in quick desired sequence of each of said superimposed layers from a supply roll, which shall provide a minimum efiective cutting length for the shearing blades and means for positioning said cutting length with respect to a guide means thereby facilitating speed, accuracy and smoothness in the cutting operation and requiring a minimum of skill to operate, and which shall be practical and efficient to a high degree in service.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists of features of constructions, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter disclosed and the steps of the improved method hereinafter described, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following.

In the accompanying drawing in which various embodiments of the invention are shown:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of sheet fabric laid out and retained on a table top for practicing the invention with the improved portable hand-guided shearing device.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1 showing details of the sheet fabric arranged in superimposed layers.

Fig. 2A is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the uppermost layer of sheet fabric in position after cutting with the hand-guided shearing device, the guide plate being shown in broken line position removed from the stack prior to its replacement in guiding position upon the newly cut layer.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional views taken on line 33 in Fig. 1 and on line 44 in Fig. 3, respectively, showing severing positioning of the sheet fabric between the cutting blades and the lower blade foot projection member of the device riding along the rail ledge of the guide plate. In dot and dash lines in Fig. 3, there is shown the relative short effective cutting length of each stroke required in shearing the sheet fabric and in Fig. 4, the construction of the rail ledge mounted on the base bar of the guide plate.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary side elevational and top plan views of a portable magnetic power vibratory type fice of shearing device constructed to embody the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a cutting blade' showing a modified mounting thereof to eliminate the pivotal end support of the device shown in Figs. 5, 6 or 8.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view showing cutting blade portions like those shown in Figs. 3 and 7, but utilizing rotary power actuating means of conventional construction instead of the magnetic power vibratory type shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of shearing device similar to that shown in Figs. 5 and 6 but with a foot projection member supported from a resilient shock absorber shoe for reducing vibration transmitted to the handle of the shearing device.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 10''-10 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the shearing device of Fig. 9 showing the shock absorber shoe.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the resilient shock absorber shoe removed from the device with the foot projection member and attachment nut shown in an exploded position.

Fig. 13 is a top and side perspective view of the attachment nut of Fig. 12 showing the elongated bifurcated head portion forming a guide slot for maintaining proper alignment of the shock absorber shoe with respect to the cutting blades, and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the resilient shock absorber shoe shown in Fig. 12 with a sliding caster type member for general use on a horizontal supporting surface replacing the foot projection member.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 20 denotes apparatus equipment constructed to embody the invention and to practice the improved method therewith.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, said apparatus equipment 20 may comprise a horizontally disposed table top T of suitable size required to arrange thereon lengths of sheet material M, such as, fabric, cloth and the like, in superimposed layers L to form a stack or pile P after being cut as said fabric material M is unwound from a supply source roll R; an elongated, weighted anchoring bar 21 to retain leading cut end portions E of said out layers L in stacked arrangement; and an elongated guide plate 22 along which severing operation of fabric materialM to form cut layers L is effected by an improved shearing device 23. The latter may be provided with a blade foot projection member 23a, that is, a pin serving as a pivoting and guiding means which in operation of device 23 slidingly rides along a rail ledge 22a, the latter upstanding from base bar 22b of the guide plate 22 to serve as a trackway during the shearing of the sheet material M in the manner hereinafter described.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, elongated anchoring bar 21 and guide plate 22 may each be made of a suitable metal and of sufiicient length and weight to retain the pile of layers L spread fiat, bar 21 having a rectangular cross section, while guide plate 22 may have rail ledge 22a thereof formed to extend longitudinally along a midportion of said base bar 22b. The latter and the guide ledge 22a may each be of rectangular stock with guide layer 22a extending above the level of the base bar 22b a distance slightly less than the down-reach length of device foot projection 23a to permit free pivoting of shearing device 23 thereon with respect to guide plate 22, as is clear from Figs. 3 and 4.

When guide ledge 22a is mounted on base bar 22b, it may be secured together by spaced apart screws 22c.

Shearing device 23 may include an electrical power drive of any suitable rotary or vibratory type of well understood construction for actuating the required relai tive movement of-the cutting mechanism thereof. As is clear from Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, shearing device 23 may be of the portable magnetic power vibratory type having a solenoid magnet S mounted on a handle H from a cage or-bracket D which also carries in an overslung position an armature A supported by a jumper leaf spring G that is suitably secured as by screwed on fastener piece K, for vibratory movement to and away from said magnet S when the latter is energized from suitable electric power supplied through wiring W and push button switch B mounted on a side of saidhandle H and connected in circuit with wiring W in the well understood manner and as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

To vary the frequency of vibration of armature A, a helical coil compression spring C having an adjustment control finger screw N axially disposed with respect to said coil spring C is provided and compactly positioned for convenience within looped portion I of jumper leaf spring G, said adjustment control finger screw N being supported to extend between spaced apart ears Q upstanding from bracket D.

Secured to project beyond and movable with armature A, a relatively stiff bracket arm 24 extends in a downward direction, as shown in Fig. 5. Said arm 24 carries a pivot bolt 24a which engages a mid-portion 23c between a pointed leading end 23d and a blunt end 2 3e opposite the latter of a movable shearing blade 23!) and having a knife edge 23 extending to said pointed leading end 23d.

cooperatively positioned with respect to movable shearing blade 23b, there is provided another shearing blade 23g extending from a hilt portion 23k thereof, the latter being positioned in an overlapping relation to said .blade blunt end 23a to provide a swingablc mounting as by means of a pivot bolt 23h thereto. Said blade 23g has a pointed leading end 23 and is formed with a knife edge 23m which with said movable blade knife edge 23; forms shippers effective to cut the sheet fabric M inserted between said knife edges 23) and 23m in the manner hereinafter described and as is clear from 'Figs. 1 to 4. Hilt portion 23k may be extended to terminate in a shank end 23:: which may be mounted in a rigid position in a socket holder portion 23p extending down from handle H below the magnet S and cage D for parallelly aligning blades 23b and 23g in sliding contact, as seen in Figs. 5 and 6.

One feature of construction of apparatus equipment embodying the invention includes said foot projection 23a extending down beyond mid-section of the fixed shearing blade 23g of shearing device 23 and its combination with said rail ledge 22a of guard plate 22 to simplify accuracy and smooth manual direction of shearing device 23 during the cutting operation, as is now clear from Figs. 1 to 6.

The utility and operation of apparatus equipment 20 will now be apparent. After constructing and assembling power driven shearing device 23 including guide plate 22 and providing end anchoring bar 21 and a suitable horizontally disposed working surface, such as, tabletop T, a source of sheet material M, as for example, a roll R, may be arranged to supply a web from which layers L are severed in superimposed relationto form a stack or pile P. In manufacturing neckwear in quantity production, it is generally required to cut on a bias path sheet material M from rolls R or the like, provided as a textile fabric, which cutting operation has been found to involve skilled and tedious labor. These conditions make it difficult to obtain constant, smooth, accurate and expeditious operation and permit possible waste in damaging the sheet material M being accidentally cut at variance from prescribed bias cut paths.

To eliminate such deficiencies, apparatus equipment 29 y be manually operated in the following manner: T leading end portion of the web ofsheet material M is unreeled from roll R and drawn along table top T over guide plate 22, the leading end B being held in po sition by end anchoring bar 21 at an end of the table top T opposite roll R. Guide plate 22, as seen in Fig. l, is positioned at an angle corresponding to the direction of a desired bias cut path XX in relation to the length of sheet material M. An edge portion of saidsheet material M may then be inserted between blades 23b and 23g of shearing device 23 and foot projection 23a mounted for sliding movement on base bar 22b against rail ledge 22:: of guide plate 22 so that on energizing magnet S by pressing button B for giving -blade 23b a vibratory movement, said device 23 may simply, easily and quickly be drawn along the bias cutting path XX with said foot projection 23a accurately and positively guided by rail ledge 22a thereby severing a new leading cut end E from superimposed spread out web of material M and forming layer L. Guide plate 22 is then readily lifted from under newly cut trailing end portion F and placed onto table T as indicated in Fig. 2A. After said end portion F is properly smoothed out, guide plate 22 may then be replaced upon newly formed layer L of stack P along trailing end portion F, as will be clear from Figs. 1 and 2, so that rail ledge 22a is in alignment with the cut edge of pile P, that is, along bias cutting path XX ready for serving to guide shearing device 23 in cutting the next superimposed layer L. The web of sheet material M is then again unreeled from roll R and drawn along table top T to a desired length for forming the next layer L in the same manner as hereinbefore described.

The above described operations to bias cut layer L may be repeated to provide a stack or pile P of superimposed layers L to the height desired for subsequent pattern cutting.

It should be noted that in said bias cutting of layers L with shearing device 23, the snipping effect severing layer L from the web of sheet material M employs only a relatively short length of the knife blade edges 23] and 23m, as shown in Fig. 4 by the full and dot and dash line positions of movable blade 23b, said short effective cutting length being indicated at 25. Thus, a much faster speed and shorter stroke of vibratory movement is required. It is further to be noted that said shipper cutting length at 26 is positioned to straddle an extension of the axis YY of projection member 23a and is of sufiiciently short length to obviate the necessity of exact lengthwise alignment of the cutting blades 23b and 23g with the desired bias cut path XX during the cutting operation. By virtue of said relationship between snipper cutting length 26 and axis YY of foot projection member 23a, the latter in serving as a pivoting means for shearing device 23 as well as a guide means in riding on base bar 22b against rail ledge 22a permits handle H to be more freely manipulated without the possibility of producing an undesirable saw tooth cut edge configuration or otherwise damaging the material M being cut.

The improved method embodying the invention for example, as in the manufacture of neckties from decorative textile fabric with shape retaining liningswillnow be to cutting into patterns is unwound from supply rolls R and spread flat on .table top T .in superimposed cut layers L of predetermined length.

Thus, it is seen that as a first step of the improved method a leading portion of the web of sheet material M is unreeled and drawn along table top T, the leading end E then being retained in position by any suitable means, such as, weight anchoring bar 21. Prior to or immediately following said first step, a cutter guide means, such as, guide plate 22, is aligned to extend beneath and substantially transversely across the length of the web of material M for positioning bias cut path XX. Next, foot projection 23a is engaged against rail ledge 22a of guide plate 22 and shearing device 23 drawn therealon'g "to sever layer L from the web, as is clear from Figs. 1 to.

4, inclusive. Now, by simply laterally displacing guide plate 22 from its position beneath cut trailing end portion F of layer L shown in full lines in Fig. 2A to the broken line position, smoothing out cut end portion F and replacing guide plate 22 on top of pile P in alignment for defining cut path XX, the next length of material M may be unwound and positioned for forming the next layer L.

By utilizing this improved method, manipulation of guide plate 22 is reduced to a minimum, being limited to slight lateral movement between the cutting of successive layersL from the web of material M.

Fig. 7 shows a modified form of shearing blade construction 33 having a fixed blade 33g supported from a socket holder portion 33 in a manner similar to blade 23g shown in Fig. 5. The movable blade 33b, instead of being pivoted to hilt portion 33k, is entirely free thereof and is rigidly secured, to bracket arm 34 by any suitable means, such as, rivets 34a. Thus, movable blade 33b is rigidly held in predetermined relation with respect to bracket arm 34 for rapid vibratory movement against fixed blade 33g, a short effective cutting length 36 of blades 33b and 33g, as shown by the full and dot and dash line positions of movable blade 33b, being provided by construction 33 and positioned to straddle the axis '--Y' of pivoting projection member 33a in the same manner described above for effective cutting length 26 of shearing device 23.

It may be desired to utilize a rotary motor as a power source instead of the vibratory type shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, in which case any suitable drive mechanism well known in the art may be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. To this end, Fig. 8 showsa modified form of shearing blade construction 43 in which the movable blade 43b is pivoted to hilt portion 43k of fixed blade 43g in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 5 for shearing device 23 but modified for power actuation by a rotary motor (not shown) having a drive shaft 48 terminating in a worm gear 48a driving gear 48b. The latter may be provided with an eccentric drive for oscillating movable blade 43b in any suitable manner, here shown as pitman 48c and extension arm 43c of said blade 43b.

It will now be clear that shearing blade constructions 33 and 43, when substituted in shearing device 23, will function as part of apparatus equipment 20 in the manner as hereinbefore pointed out.

Where a shearing device of broader use and application is desired, the foot projection members 23a and 33a maybe eliminated from fixed blades 23g and 33g of shearing device 23 and construction 33, respectively, and a resilient shock absorber or vibration damper shoe provided with means for slidingly supporting the shearing device when operated on any horizontal table surface, said shoe being arranged for removably mounting a foot projection member when it is desired to utilize the shearing device in combination with a guide plate such as plate 22.

To this end, Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, show a modified form of shearing device 53 which is seen to include a fixed blade 53g supported from a socket holder portion 53p, a movable blade 53b rigidly secured to bracket arm 54 by rivets 54a, device 53 being similar to constructions 33 shown in Fig. 7, with the exception that fixed blade 53g has a relatively straight bottom edge with pivoting projection member being omitted therefrom.

Shearing device 53, as is clear from Figs. 9, 10 and 11 may have suitably secured to a fixed portion thereof resilient shock absorber or vibration damper shoe 57 formed as a flat leaf spring mounted to extend in supporting spaced relation below fixed blade 53g and terminating in an upturned end 57a, the latter having a centrally located notch 57b for accommodating leading end 53i of fixed blade 53g. The other end 570 of shoe 57 opposite upturned end 57a may be rigidly secured to or integrally formed with a fastening plate 57d extending at right angles thereto, plate 57d being secured by any suitable means, such as, nut and bolt 57a, to socket holder portion 53p. If desired, the upper free end of fastening plate 57d may be formed with an outwardly curved guide extension 57 serving to deflect and guide material M, after cutting, laterally away from shearing device 53.

For mounting removable foot projection 59, shoe 57 is formed with an opening 57g through which threaded end 59a of foot projection 59 extends for threading engagement with nut 59b, the latter, as seen from Figs. 12 and 13, having an elongated bifurcated head portion 590 forming guide slot 59d for accommodating fixed blade 53g.

When shearing device 53 is used for cutting a fabric without the aid of an underlying guiding means, such as, guide plate 22, as is clear from Figs. 12 and 14, foot projection member 59 may be unscrewed from engagement with nut 59b and a round headed slide member 69 substituted therefor on which shearing device 53 may be slidingly supported on any horizontal surface.

Shearing device 53 equipped with vibration damper shoe 57 carrying foot projection 59 may be used with apparatus equipment 20 in place of shearing device 23. In operation, shoe 57 will be raised from its normally downwardly extending position shown in full lines to its substantially horizontally extending position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 9 thereby causing axis Z-Z of foot projection 59 to substantially intersect snipper short cutting length 56 and render a relationship similar to that of axis YY and cutting length 26 hereinbefore described in regard to shearing device 23. Bifurcated head 590 of nut 59b serves to maintain shoe 57 and fixed blade 53g in proper alignment relation.

It is thus seen that there is provided improved hand.- guided shearing apparatus and method whereby the several objects of this invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be'made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A portable shearing device of the character described including a pair of blades mounted on a handle, each of said blades having a sharpened cutting edge, one of said blades being supported relatively rigid with respect to the handle, the other of said blades being movably mounted for cutting edge cooperative engagement with said rigidly supported blade, power means actuating said movably mounted blade at relatively high speed with a relatively short stroke for providing a short efiective cutting length along said blade cutting edges, and a foot projection pin extending from said device for guidingly and pivotally engaging a supporting surface, said pin having an axis intersecting said effective cutting length of the blade.

2. In a portable shearing apparatus having a manually guided power operated shears including a pair of blades mounted on a handle, each of said blades having a sharpened cutting edge, one of said blades being fixedly supported from said handle and the other of said blades being movably mounted for cutting edge cooperative engagement with said fixed blade, power means actuating said movably mounted blade at relatively high speed with a relatively short stroke for providing a short effective cutting length along said blade cutting edges, a foot projec tion pin extending from said shears having an axis intersecting said effective cutting length of the blade; in combination with an elongated guide plate having a trackway extending lengthwise thereof for detachably engaging said foot projection pin to permit recurring guided sliding movements of the shears for cutting a fabric overlying the a at lste a ee Pa h along aid skw b t l e i i ii n b at n r g mammal pivoting of said shears ,in incresaiditrack way to'saidaxis.

, [table shearing apparatus defined in claim 2 in which'theJ bration damper-shoe in the form of a fiat leaf spring is .inounted onsaid shears to extend in supporting spacedrelation below said fixed blade and carries said foot projection pin. i

i 4. A portable shearing apparatus of the character described comprising" an elongated guide plate having a trackway extending lengthwise thereof positioned beneath a fabriclmaterial tov be .cut, a manually guided shears having scissor blades and power means for actuating the shears at relatigelyrhigh speed and with a short stroke for proyiding'la shortefectivecutting length. along said scissor blades, a foot projection pin extending from said shears cohstructed'and arranged to be engaged in said guide plate trackway for slidingly supporting and serving as a pivotal axisfor the shears a plane substantially parallel to that of the fabric material, said pivotal axis extending to intersect said effective cutting length of the scissor ands; i

5. --T he portable shearing apparatus defined in claim 2 including a vibration damper shoe extending in supporting spaced relation below saidfixed blade, said shoe being in the form of a relatively fiat'leaf spring having a forward free end upturned'and.centrallynotched for accommodating said fixed blade, an end of the leaf spring opposite said free upturned end being rigidly secured to a fastening plate extending for attachment to a fixed portion of the shears, and alignment guide means upstanding from a mid-portion of said leaf spring having bifurcated portions extending along "appears sides of the fixed blade.

6. The portable shearing apparatus defined in claim 2 including a vibration damper shoe extending in supporting spaced relation below said fixed blade, said shoe being in the form of'a relatively flat leaf spring having .a forward free end upturned and centrally notched for accommodatingsaid fixed blade, an end of the leaf spring opposite said free upturned end being rigidly secured to a fastening plate extending for attachment to a fixed portion of the shears, and alignment guide means upstanding from a mid-portion of said leaf spring having bifurcated portions extending along opposite sides of the fixed blade, said slotted alignment guide means being in the form of a nut having said bifurcated portions extending as an elongated head, said leaf spring mid-portion being formed with an opening, said foot projection member extending from a side of the leaf spring opposite the nut and having a threaded end extending through said opening removably secured in threaded engagement with said nut.

7. A vibration damper shoe for hand manipulated power driven shears of the character described comprising a relatively flat leaf spring having a free end thereof upturned and centrally notched, an 'end of the leaf spring opp s te a d e immm d sad r d y e ured $9 fia l Plate t ndiiia a i' a right alle e to the .plane'bf leaf spring, and'a slotted alignmnt g'uide mean's upstanding from a mid-portion of said leaf spring. .8; .Tlieyibration damper shoe defined in claim 7 in which said slotted alignment guide means is in the form of a nut having an elongated bifurcated head, said leaf spring mid-portion being formed with an opening, and a foot projection member extending from a side of the leaf spring opposite said nut and having a threaded end extending through said opening secured in threaded engagement with said nut.

'9. A portable shearing device of the character described comprising a handle, means rigidly carried by said handle for mounting a fixed cutting blade to extend forwardly from the handle when the shearing device is in a normally horizontal cutting position, a vibratory electric motor mounted on said handle above and behind said fixed blade, a vibratory armature of said motor rigidly mounting a downwardly extending bracket arm, a movable cutting blade mounted in shearing engagement with said fixed blade, said bracket arm connecting'the movable blade to the armature for imparting oscillating shearing motion thereto, a flat vibration damper 'shoe extending in supporting spaced relation below said fixed blade, said shoehaving a fastening plate secured to said fixed blade mounting means and a free upturned forward endlcentrally notched for permitting relative movement betweenthe shoe and fixed blade, and a foot projection member extending downwardly from said shoe serving as a guide for the shearing deviceby slidingly engaging a trackway provided beneath a fabric being cut."

10. The portable shearing device defined in claim 9 in which said movable cutting blade is pivotally mounted on said fixed blade and said bracket arm is pivotally connected to the movable blade and imparts said oscillating shearing motion to said movable'blade as a pivoting action.

11. The portable shearing device defined in claim 9 in which said movable cutting blade is rigidly attached to said bracket for imparting an oscillatory wiping action against said fixed blade.

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